Unit Five Research Ethics Research Ethics Basics Ethics
Unit Five Research Ethics
Research Ethics - Basics • Ethics –norms for conduct. • Aims of research – knowledge, truth and avoidance of error. • Norms - guidelines for authorship copyright and patenting policies, data sharing policies, confidentiality rules, peer review, etc. • Ethical norms - ‘body of principles governing right and wrong’
Research Ethics - Basics Research misconduct/unethical research: • Falsification – altering data • Fabrication – creating data • Plagiarism – taking ideas or words without appropriate attribution • Copyright (legal protection of intellectual property) ü Original works of authorship (books, software) ü Covers the particular expression of an idea in the work ü The idea itself cannot be copyrighted. • Misrepresenting research data
Research Ethics - Basic • Controls over research involving human subjects: ü Legal obligations ü Professional code of ethics ü Pre-Clearance from Relevant Regulators E. g. Typically, University Ethics Committee ü Free and Informed Consent (voluntary participation)
Research Ethics - Importance 1. Promote the aims of research (knowledge, truth and avoidance of error) 2. Promote the values essential to collaborative work (trust, accountability, mutual respect, and fairness) 3. Ensure that researchers can be held accountable to the public 4. Help to build public support for research 5. Promote moral and social values (human rights, animal welfare, health and safety)
Ethical Code • Many learned bodies have published ethical codes of practice, for example: ü Medical Research Council ü Economic and Social Research Committee ü Welcome Trust ü The Nuffield Foundation ü British Society of Criminology ü The British Sociological Society ü National research ethics guidelines – Ministry of Science and Technology.
Engineering Research Ethics • Concerning obligations, rights, ideals of character and minimising harm to humans, animals and the environment. • The responsibilities and rights that ought to be endorsed in engineering research • Desirable ideals in engineering research
Themes in Ethics of Research in Engineering 1) Moral values encompass all aspects of technological development: ethics and excellence in engineering cannot be separated. 2) Engineering projects generate new possibilities and risks, risks engineers share responsibility for creating benefits, preventing harm and advising on dangers 3) Personal integrity/commitments matter in engineering, in addition to principles of responsibility
Themes in Ethics of Research in Engineering 4) Engineering ethics concerns both decisions made by individuals and general directions of technological development, collective responsibilities of engineers, and engineering professional societies 5) Ethical dilemmas and potential conflicts of interest arise in engineering, as elsewhere, due to myriad and potentially conflicting moral values
Ethical Code Development • Some general ethical principles many codes addresses: • Honesty – in reporting data, results, methods, procedures No fabrication, falsifying, etc. • Objectivity – strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, etc. • Integrity – keeping promises and agreements • Carefulness – avoid carless errors and negligence; negligence critically examine your work, etc.
Ethical Code Development • Openness – share data, results, ideas, etc. And be open to criticism • Respect for intellectual property – honour patents, copyrights, etc. No use of unpublished data without permission. Give credit when credit is due. • Confidentiality – protect confidential communications such as paper submitted for publication, etc.
Ethical Code Development • Legality – know and obey relevant laws institutional and government policies • Care – use proper respect and care when humans and animals are used in research. • Human study participants’ protection – minimize harms and risks and maximize benefits; respect human dignity, privacy; take special precautions with vulnerable populations. • Other Deviations – Ethical dilemma
Summary • Fundamental moral values and responsibilities. • Benefits versus potential risks – the engineer’s roles • Personal integrity • Combining economic growth, social justice and environmental care – responsibilities to all sections of society • Awareness of conflicts of interest – and behaving appropriately
End of Unit Five
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